While the USNWR is a good 'guide,' you shouldn't rely too much on it. A year ago when I went through the app process, I like many kids got addicted to the damn USNWR, and it biased what schools I applied to. While I am still ok with Syracuse and attending there, my opinion and perception on half the schools I applied to last year has changed, mostly becauese I now realize at the time I was spending way to much time looking at the USNWR list and not enough time speaking with current law students, law professors, etc. Seriously, after I actually took the time to speak with law students and law professors, if I had to do it all over again I would have applied to totally different schools. The number next to the school name means very little unless you can place it within a broader context that actually means something to you... like what kind of law you want to practice and where you want to live... how about those to start ?